Former

ABSTRACT

A former is used to fold webs longitudinally. During the web drawing-in process; the individually incoming paper webs in a group of paper webs are conveyed smoothly to a folding mechanism at the end of the former. This is accomplished by using a number of upper and lower transport elements which are located above and next to each other at least inside the boundaries of the upper surface of the former. These upper and lower transport elements can be brought together and can be separated. They can be driven as desired.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a former for the longitudinal foldingof one or more webs placed on top of each other. Conveying means forguiding the webs are arranged in the former.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A device for the automatic feeding of a start of a paper web is knownfrom DE 196 12 924 A1, wherein the paper web is guided over turning barsor is fed to a former by means of endless driven conveyor belts.

DE-AS 11 41 650 describes a former with conveying rollers for webs ofmaterial.

JP 06-247622 A discloses a former with rotating guide elements forreduction of the friction between the former and the web.

GB 862 296 A and EP 0 415 077 A1 each disclose a former with drivenconveying means located in the interior. These conveying means conveysheets or webs in the conveying plane of the not yet folded sheets orwebs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is based on providing a former.

This object is attained by providing driven conveying means which guidethe web to the former. The web or the several webs placed on top of eachother are longitudinally folded in the former. The driven conveyingmeans guide the web parallel with the plane of the not yet folded weband are adjacent and also inside the former.

The advantages which can be achieved by means of the present inventionlie, in particular, in that in the course of the draw-in process of apaper web into the web-fed rotary printing press, the paper webs of apaper web train are automatically fed to the folding unit. Introductionor re-introduction of individual paper webs can take place at the speedof the press. In the course of this, the paper webs are each guided withprestress between conveyor belts or conveying devices. These conveyingdevices act on both sides of the outer paper web, so that the interiorlylocated paper webs are carried along, clamped by the conveyor belts orconveying devices. A displacement of the paper webs themselves andtherefore a blockage in the area of the former inlet is avoided by this.It is moreover advantageous that the paper webs can be conveyed up tothe folding rollers, even as a train, where they are grasped by thelatter and fed to the folding unit.

The paper webs guided by the belt guide devices have a stabilizedrunning direction, so that a lateral excursion, and thereforeinterruptions of the sequence are prevented. The belt guide device ofthe present invention can also be employed for removing malfunctionswith the running of the webs in the paper web feed device, or in thecourse of malfunctions with the running of the paper during the draw-inof the paper webs in the folding area.

The conveying means are aligned so they work in, or approximately in,the production direction.

In accordance with a variation of the present invention, lateral guideelements are provided, and extend on both sides of the lateralboundaries of the former surface as far as, or into the vicinity of therespective former roller.

A number of upper and lower conveying means, which are arranged aboveeach other, are provided within the boundaries of the lateral guideelements.

Here, the upper and lower conveying means can be brought into and out ofcontact with each other and can be selectively driven.

In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a number of conveyor belts, which point in the direction ofthe surface of the lateral guide elements and which can be charged withsuction air, are provided within the boundaries of the lateral guideelements.

In accordance with a second preferred embodiment, the conveying meansconsist of driven or of non-driven conveying rollers. In thisembodiment, the lower and upper driven conveying rollers can acttogether, for example, or upper conveying rollers can work together withlower suction belts.

In accordance with a third preferred embodiment, the conveying meansconsist of driven driving or conveying chains.

In accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment, the conveying meanscan also consist of driven V-belts, flat belts or toothed belts.

A cover, which has slits for the lower conveying means, is suitablyprovided between the boundaries of the former.

Slits which expose the lower conveying means are also provided in thesurfaces of the lateral guide elements.

It is advantageous if an outer paper guide plate is assigned to each ofthe lateral guide elements and is spaced apart from them. In thisconfiguration, slits are provided in the outer paper guide plate formaking access of the upper conveying means to the lower conveying meanspossible.

It might possibly be sufficient if a paper deflection device, whichsurrounds the lateral boundaries in the form of a shell, is providedalong the lateral boundaries of the former and is spaced apart fromthem.

It is moreover practical that a paper guide device is provided which isalso spaced apart from the former surface and covers it eithercompletely or partially. In this case, the paper guide device arrangedin the area of the former surface is provided with suitable slits formaking access of the upper conveying means to the lower conveying meanspossible.

In accordance with a last preferred embodiment, it is also possible thatthe outer paper guide plate, which covers the lateral guide elements,and the portion of the outer paper guide device covering the formersurface, are connected in the area of the lateral deflection elements,or adjoin each other without being connected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in thedrawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1, a front plan view of a former with a paper draw-in system in theposition of rest in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2, a lateral view in accordance with FIG. 1, partially in section,and without the conveying rollers in the left former cheek,

FIG. 3, a section view taken along line III—III in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4, an enlarged representation of the former outlet in accordancewith FIG. 1,

FIG. 5, a lateral view of a further preferred embodiment of theconveying devices in the position of rest and,

FIG. 6, a sectional representation taken along line VI—VI of FIG. 1through a longitudinal former analogous to FIG. 3, but with the furthervariation of the conveying devices and in the working position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A longitudinal former, identified as former 1 in what follows, is seenin FIG. 1 and for example consists of a triangularly designed formerplate 8, which tapers in the running direction of a paper web 2, 3, 4 or5 in the direction toward the former nose 7 and has a surface 10. Theformer plate 8 has generally conventional deflecting elements 15, 20,which are arranged on both sides, which can be charged with blown air,and which contain bores 9. The bores 9 in the deflecting elements 15, 20are directed against the paper webs 2 to 5 inside of a deflectingsurface 67 of approximately 90°, as seen in FIG. 3, and which is in theform of a segment of a circle and points in the direction of the paperwebs 2 to 5. The deflecting elements 15, 20 consist of a hollow profile,for example a tube, preferably a metal tube. Viewed in the runningdirection A of the paper webs 2 to 5, a former inlet roller 14 isarranged directly in front of the former inlet, is seated in lateralframes 11, 12 and can be driven by means of a motor 13. Moreover, twoknown, former folding rollers 18, 19, which are rotatably seated in aframe 16, 17, as seen in FIG. 2, are arranged offset by 90° in relationto the former inlet roller 14 at the end of the former 1 close to theformer nose.

In accordance with a first preferred embodiment, left and right lateralguide elements 21, 22, each of which enlarge the former surface andextend parallel with the former folding rollers, are arranged, inaddition to the former plate 8, on both sides of the former plate 8 andon the other side of the deflecting elements 15, 20. Each one of thelateral guide elements 21, 22 is designed to be approximately triangularand, viewed in the running direction A of the paper webs 2 to 5, has amaximum width b, as seen in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of the left or rightformer folding rollers 18, 19. This maximum width b is greater than amaximum width of a longitudinally folded paper web 2 to 5. The lateralguide elements 21, 22 extend in the running direction A of the paperwebs 2 to 5. The paper webs 2 to 5 rest against the lateral guideelements 21, 22.

In addition to the former plate 8, the former 1 has at least one lateralguide element 21, 22, which is arranged approximately vertically inrelation to the former plate 8.

Driven endless conveying belts 23, 24, 25, 26, for example, are shown inFIG. 1 and are arranged a few millimeters below the surface 10 of theformer plate 8. Pairs of these conveyor belts 23 to 26 have differentlengths and extend, spaced apart from each other, approximately in therunning direction A of the paper webs 2 to 5. The term approximatelymeans, that ends of the conveyor belts 23, 24 which are close to theformer folding rollers and are arranged on the left side of the formerplate 8 can be offset toward the left by up to 10°, and the conveyorbelts 25, 26 on the right side can be arranged mirror-reversed offsettoward the right by up to 10°—in relation to the conveying direction A,all as shown in FIG. 1.

By means of respective slits 27 in the surface 10, the conveyor belts 23to 26 have contact in the direction of the surface 10 and have holes 28.The endless conveyor belts 23 to 26 can be motor-driven and their speedcan be controlled, and they are each conducted over belt guide boxes 29.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment, conveying means alsoextend at the left and right lateral element 21, 22, for examplerespectively two conveyor belts 31, 32, 33, 34 conducted on belt guideboxes 29, which are shown in FIG. 3. By means of pipe lines 36, the beltguide boxes 29 are connected with each other, as well as with at leastone suction air feed line 37. An upper belt guide surface 41, i.e.facing the surface 10 of the former plate 8 or the surface 38, 39 of thelateral guide elements 21, 22, of each belt guide box 29 hasperforations, for example longitudinal slits 42 arranged next to eachother and behind each other.

The surfaces 10, 38, 39 of the former plate 8, as well as of the lateralguide elements 21, 22, are surrounded by a paper guide device 43, whichis located at a distance c of, for example between 10 and 100 mm, fromit, or a paper guide plate of a thin flat material, for example sheetmetal, so that a conduit 68 of a width c is formed for receiving thepaper webs 2 to 5. In the area near the former folding rollers, thepaper guide device 43 can also have slits 69, as seen in FIG. 2.

Conveying roller systems 46 to 49, each having conveying rollers 44, arelocated above the conveyor belts 23 to 26 of the former plate 8.Furthermore, conveying roller systems 51, 52 and 53, 54 are arrangedabove the conveyor belts 31, 32 or 33, 34 of the left or right lateralguide elements 21, 22. In FIG. 3, the conveying roller systems 51, 52are shown in the position of rest. Each of the conveying roller systems46 to 49 and 51 to 54 have holder brackets 56 fastened on the paperguide device 43, which holder brackets 56 support a number of hingedlevers 57. A conveying roller 44 is seated at each free end of thelevers 57 by means of shafts 55. Each lever 57 bearing a conveyingroller 44 can be pressed against the respectively associated conveyorbelt 23 to 26, 31 to 24, for example by means of a controllable workcylinder 58 that is only depicted in FIG. 2. To make possible thecontact between the conveying rollers 44 and the conveyor belts 23 to26, 31 to 34, appropriate cut-outs or slits 59 have been cut into thejacket-like paper guide device 43.

The paper guide device 43 can also consist of a grating, for example afine-meshed wire grille, arranged at a distance c above the surfaces 10,38, 39.

The respective conveying roller systems 46 to 49, 51 to 54 can also bedesigned in such a way that all conveying rollers 44 of a system can beplaced against the conveyor belts 23 to 26, 31 to 34 by means of acommon actuating means.

The former 1 furthermore has a paper web feed device 61 in the area ofthe former inlet roller 14. This paper web feed device 61 is arrangedupstream of the former 1, as viewed in the running direction A of thepaper webs 2, 3, 4, 5, all as shown in FIG. 2. This paper web feeddevice 61 can consist of upper and lower guide tongues 64, 66, also asshown in FIG. 2, which extend at a distance d, for example 50 to 250 mm,from each other in the running direction A of the paper webs 2 to 5.These guide tongues 64, 66 are guided around the former inlet roller 14approximately at a radius of the former inlet roller 14 and an arc ofwrap of between 30° to 90°. The guide tongues 64, 66 are arrangedrespectively spaced apart next to each other in the axial direction ofthe former inlet roller 14.

On their ends near the former folding rollers, each of paper guidedevices 43 arranged above the lateral guide elements 21, 22 has severalpaper web guide tongues 63, which project into the former folding rollerinlet nip 62. Forced guidance of the paper webs 2 to 5 into the formerfolding rollers 18, 19 is achieved by means of this.

The mode of functioning of the former in accordance with the presentinvention is as follows: in the course of the sequential draw-in ofseveral paper webs 2, 3, 4, 5, or when re-introducing one paper web, forexample the paper web 3, the drive mechanisms of the conveyor belts 23to 26 and 31 to 34 are switched on. At the same time the work cylinders58 are charged with a pressure medium, so that the conveying rollers 44of the conveying roller systems 46 to 49 and 51 to 54 act on theconveyor belts 23 to 26 and 31 to 34, or on the previously drawn-inpaper webs 2, 4, 5. The paper web 3 is fed to the former 1 via the paperweb feed device 61, and in the process comes into the draw-in area ofthe conveyor belts 23 to 26, 31 to 34, as well as of the conveyingroller systems 46 to 49, 51 to 54. These clamp the paper webs 2, 3, 4, 5and conduct them on the surfaces 10, 38, 39 of the former 1 to theformer folding rollers 18, 19 without being backed up.

If necessary, the conveyor belts 23 to 26 can be charged with suctionair via the belt guide boxes, the longitudinal slits 42, as well as theholes 28. In the process, the lower paper web 5 of the paper web train 2to 5 is aspirated. The remaining paper webs 2 to 4 are pressed againstthe lower paper web 5 by the conveying rollers 44. In the course ofthis, the conveyor belts 23 to 26, 31 to 41, which are acted upon bysuction air, together with the conveying rollers 44, form tractionareas, which convey the paper web train 2 to 5, and which also stabilizeits direction of running.

In the course of the draw-in process of the paper web, the device inaccordance with the present invention can also be switched on in case ofweb running malfunctions in the paper web feed device, or in case ofpaper running malfunctions in the folding area. In this case, theconveying rollers are placed on the running paper web and prevent apaper back-up in the paper guide device. Moreover, in case of paperrunning malfunctions in the folding unit, for example a paper web breakduring the draw-in process, the paper webs are stabilized in theirrunning direction and cannot drift off laterally.

After the mentioned causes for switching on the device in accordancewith the invention have been removed, the conveying rollers 44 will bepivoted back into their position of rest by means of the work cylinders58, and the conveyor belts 23 to 26, 31 to 34 are stopped. Since thetops of the conveyor belts 23 to 26, 31 to 34 lie slightly below thesurfaces 10, 38, 39, they have no contact with one of the paper webs 2,3, 4 or 5 when the belt drive mechanism has been switched off.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment it is possible toprovide the conveying roller systems 46 to 49, 51 to 54 with one motordrive mechanism for each system. It is furthermore also possible toprovide each individual conveying roller 44 with a motor drive. Thedrive mechanisms can be designed to be controllable, so that thecircumferential speed of the conveying rollers 44 corresponds to thespeed of the conveyor belts 23 to 26, 31 to 34, as well as to the speedof the paper webs 2, 3, 4 or 5.

It is, of course, also possible that a partial paper web of only halfthe paper web width will need to be drawn in. In that case, either onlythe left conveyor devices 23, 24, 31, 32, or the right conveyor devices25, 26, 33, 34, need to be switched on.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the presentinvention it is possible to form the paper guide device 43, which isarranged over the extended plane 10, only in the area of the deflectingelements 15, 20 of the paper web feed device 61.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment which is represented inFIGS. 5 and 6, the conveyor belts or conveying devices 71 to 74, 76 to79, which are arranged on the side of the former plate 8 which is remotefrom the conduit, or the left and right lateral guide elements 21, 22,consist of endless, driven lower roller chains 71 to 74 and 76 to 79.These lower roller chains 71 to 74 and 76 to 79 work together in pairswith conveying systems 81 to 84, 86 to 89, each arranged on the side ofthe paper guide device 43 remote from the conduit. These conveyingsystems 81 to 84, 86 to 89 also consist of roller chains 81 to 84, 86 to89. All of these roller chains 71 to 74 and 76 to 79 and 81 to 84, 86 to89 are arranged so that they can be respectively moved in pairs 71, 81,72, 82, 73, 83, 74, 84, 76, 86, 77, 87, 78, 88, and 79, 89, toward oraway from each other, and respectively have deflecting rollers 103 and,if required, support rollers 104. For this purpose, the upper rollerchains 81 to 84, 86 to 89, each have actuating devices 91, 92. Theseactuating devices 91, 92 can support the endless roller chains 86, 87,88, 89 is pairs, as represented in FIG. 6, and can place them intocontact or out of contact. Two two-armed levers 94, 96 are pivotablyseated in a support 93 that is fixed in place on the paper guide device.Each first end of the levers 94, 96 is connected with a piston rod of awork cylinder 100 hinged on the support 93. Second ends of the levers94, 96 support the respective roller chain 86, 87, 88, 89. It is alsopossible to use several actuating devices 91 or 92 for one or several ofthe roller chains which are shown in FIG. 5.

Each roller chain 71 to 74, 76 to 79, 81 to 84, and 86 to 89, hasengagement elements 97 fixed on the links on the side facing the paperwebs 2 to 5, i.e. the paper web contact side. On its paper web contactside, each such engagement element 97 has a coating 98, for example ofplastic, with a high coefficient of friction. Note in FIG. 6, therepresentation on the roller chain 73.

With their sides 99 which respectively extend on the side of the contactwith the paper web, i.e. the sides 99 that are close to the conduit, theendless lower roller chains 71 to 74, 76 to 79 are guided on a sliderail 101. The slide rail 101 is maintained in a guide device 102, forexample in the shape of a U-shaped profile, fixed in place on the formerplate or the lateral plate, wherein the engagement elements 97 with thecoating 98 point into the conduit 68 through the slits 27. The lowerroller chains 71 to 74, and 76 to 79 are each pivotably seated onholders 103 fixed in place on the former.

It is, of course, also possible to omit the left and right lateral guideelements 21, 22 with the roller chains 76, 86, 77, 87, 78, 88, 79, 89.Then only the pairs of roller chain drive mechanisms 71, 81, 72, 82, 73,83, and 74, 84, as well as the paper guide device 43, become effective.

If in the course of the paper draw-in process, the roller chains 71 to74, 76 to 79, 81 to 84, and 86 to 89 circulate by means of drivemechanisms, not represented, and the upper roller chains 81 to 84, and86 to 89 are moved by means of actuating devices 91, 92 in the directionof the conduit 68, the engagement elements 97 will project through theslits 59 in the paper guide device 43. By means of this, one or severalpaper webs 2, 3, 4, 5 are held in place between the pairs of rollerchains 71, 81, 72, 82, 73, 83, 74, 84, 76, 86, 77, 87, 78, 88, and 79,89 and are conveyed to the former folding rollers 18, 19 as seen in thework position depicted in FIG. 6. At the end of the paper web draw-in,the upper roller chains are moved back into their position of rest whichis shown in FIG. 5. The drive mechanism for all of the roller chains isswitched off.

In summary, the concept of the present invention resides in that theconveyor belts 23 to 26, 71 to 74 of the longitudinal former 1 arearranged approximately in the running direction A of the paper webs 2 to5 below a plane or surface 10 extending between the deflecting elements15, 20. In the course of this, at least the conveying devices orconveyor belts 23 to 26, and 71 to 74 work together with conveyingsystems 46 to 49, and 81 to 85, which are arranged above the conveyorbelts 23 to 26, and 71 to 74 and which can be brought into contact withthe conveyor belts 23 to 26, and 71 to 74. To this end, it is necessarythat the former 1 be wholly or at least partially provided with a paperguide device in the area of the running paper webs 2 to 5, which paperguide device is arranged at a distance c above the running paper web.

It is possible to arrange a paper deflecting arrangement 70, spacedapart above each one of the left and right deflecting element 15, 20,for example at a distance c.

The left lateral guide element 21 is bordered by a left, 106, and right,107, and a lower border 108, for example a frame. The right lateralguide element 22 is also bordered by borders 109, 110, 111.

A conveying path of the respective conveying means 23 to 26, 31 to 34,44, 71 to 74, and 76 to 79 preferably is designed at least approximatelystraight and is arranged to extend parallel with the conveying plane ofthe webs 2, 3, 4, 5.

Thus, the conveying means 23 to 26, 31 to 34, 44, 71 to 74, and 76 to79; together with the webs 2, 3, 4, 5 they hold extend along a straightline and are therefore embodied as a linear conveyor.

While preferred embodiments of a former in accordance with the presentinvention have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it willbe apparent to one of skill in the art that a number of changes in, forexample the particular type of printing press used to print the paperwebs, the specific support for the former, and the like could be madewithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the presentinvention which is accordingly to be limited only by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A former useable to longitudinally fold at leastone web, said former comprising: a former plate having former platesurfaces; lateral guide elements cooperating with said former platesurfaces; first driven conveying means arranged within said former andadjacent said former plate surfaces, said first driven conveying meansguiding the web parallel with a conveying plane of an unfolded web;second driven conveying means arranged within said former and adjacentsaid lateral guide elements, said second driven conveying meansconveying the web parallel with said conveying plane and in a conveyingdirection of the folded web; third conveying means cooperativelyengageable with said first driven conveying means, said third conveyingmeans and said first driven conveying means being supported to bebrought into and out of contact with each other, and being selectivelydriven; and fourth conveying means cooperatively engageable with saidsecond driven conveying means, said fourth conveying means and saidsecond driven conveying means being supported to be brought into and outof contact with each other and being selectively driven.
 2. The formerof claim 1 wherein said conveying planes of said first and second drivenconveying means are approximately vertical with respect to each other.3. The former of claim 1 wherein a plurality of webs placed on top ofeach other are longitudinally folded.
 4. The former of claim 1 whereinsaid first driven conveying means are linear conveyors selected from thegroup including conveyor belts, chains and straps.
 5. The former ofclaim 1 further including means to grip an end portion of a web in saidfirst and second driven conveying means.
 6. The former of claim 1wherein said former has former lateral borders and further includingpaper deflecting arrangements surrounding said former lateral bordersand spaced from said former lateral borders as a shell.
 7. The former ofclaim 1 further including a paper guide device, said paper guide devicebeing spaced from, and at least partially covering said former platesurfaces.
 8. The former of claim 1 wherein said third conveying means ispositioned outside of said former plate and further wherein said fourthconveying means is positioned outside of said lateral guide elements. 9.The former of claim 1 further including a speed-controlled drive motorfor said first driven conveying means.